Dental inlays and Onlays in Houston, TX

Sometimes, tooth decay or damage requires more than a filling, but a dental crown is more than what is needed to restore a tooth. In these cases, Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress offers dental inlays and onlays to restore health, function, and appearance to the smiles of our patients. Inlays and onlays can help strengthen and rebuild teeth in the back of the mouth. These restorative options are custom-created in either a direct or indirect method (within or outside of the mouth) depending on your needs. Our skilled dentist personalizes dental inlays and onlays for every unique case and may use materials such as composite resin, gold, or porcelain to treat teeth. Sometimes referred to as partial crowns, onlays work by covering the chewing surface plus one or more cusp tips of a tooth while inlays are placed within the center or indented areas of the tooth structure to support it. It may be that tooth decay or damage that is affecting your oral health and smile can be resolved with a dental inlay or onlay. To find out whether your smile can benefit from this procedure, schedule an appointment at our Houston, TX practice today.

If you have a back tooth that is moderately decayed, broken, or otherwise damaged, you may need an inlay or onlay to restore it properly. Dental inlays and onlays are restorations custom-crafted to repair teeth by adding strength and rebuilding lost tooth structure. Inlays and onlays can return form and function to your mouth, and may be recommended when a simple filling is not enough to restore your tooth but your tooth does not need the full coverage and protection provided by a dental crown. Our dentist will clinically examine your tooth to find out if a dental inlay or onlay will serve your tooth best, and examine your low-radiation digital x-rays taken by our team. Once the details are apparent, we can discuss the options for restoration we offer at Made Ya Smile in Houston, TX and help you choose the material and treatment option that will best return you to optimal dental health.

We want you to enjoy your dental visits, and the team at Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress makes your comfort a high priority. Our team uses a refined skilled and gentle touch to numb your tooth and ensure you stay comfortable throughout your procedure. For our patients with dental anxiety, sedation dentistry services can be administered to keep you calm and relaxed. We will use special dental equipment to remove the decayed or damaged portions of your tooth after making sure you are fully numb. Our dentist may make your inlay or onlay directly in your mouth using tooth-colored composite material, or may order a custom-created inlay or onlay from our partner dental lab to be made of porcelain or gold. When we use an indirect technique, we will take an impression of your tooth so our lab can use it to create your unique inlay or onlay. A temporary filling is placed after the impression is taken, which will protect your tooth and keep your bite comfortable until your permanent restoration arrives at our office (usually about 1 – 2 weeks later). At that time, we will remove the temporary inlay or onlay and permanently bond your new custom restoration to your tooth. Our dentist will adjust the fit and carefully polish the surface to give you a smooth and silky feel.

Your recovery from an inlay or onlay procedure is not too different than recovering from a simple filling. It is important to avoid eating until the feeling fully returns to your mouth. You may have some minor tooth sensitivity or discomfort, but this should resolve over the next couple of days. The best way to keep your new inlay or onlay in good working order is to keep up with proper daily brushing and flossing and routine cleaning and exam visits with our Houston, TX team. When you visit us for your biannual cleanings, we will examine the margins and monitor the integrity of your restoration to make sure it continues to function properly. Inlays and onlays may serve your oral health for many years when cared for properly. If you have any concerns during your recovery, please reach out to our office as soon as possible.

Generally, inlays and onlays are used as a restorative treatment for back teeth and may be covered in part by many of the PPO plans that we accept. A member of our team will examine your specific plan before we start your procedure and present you with any out-of-pocket costs. Our compassionate team at Made Ya Smile wants everyone to get high-quality treatment for oral health and wellness, so we are pleased to offer several convenient payment options to help cover the cost of care, like low-interest financing through [email protected]

Moderately damaged back teeth may be restored with a custom inlay or onlay. Our dentist provides these direct and indirect restorations for back teeth when patients need more treatment than a filling can provide but do not need all the coverage given by a crown. Early treatment for decayed or damaged teeth can prevent greater treatment needs in the future. If you think you may need an inlay or onlay, call Made Ya Smile in Houston, TX today to make an appointment at our modern, family dental practice.